EC proposes unlimited authorisation for certain pesticides

The European Commission (EC) has proposed to grant unrestricted authorisation for some pesticides, except for the most dangerous ones, in order to cut red tape and costs for agricultural producers.

The EC said it wants to remove the need for periodic renewal of authorisations for some pesticides to simplify food and feed safety rules.

„Our proposals eliminate duplication of requirements and reporting, address legal uncertainty and remove procedures that add little value“, said the bloc's Commissioner for the Economy and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis.

The move comes at a time when Brussels this year slashed a raft of environmental laws on the grounds that they could hold back growth, in a bid to create a business-friendly environment to revive the Community economy.

The Commission says the changes are aimed at making Europe's „approval system more flexible and faster“, which could save €1 billion in compliance costs for businesses and public authorities.